Mel Gurtov takes issue with the widespread view that China is on the way to rivaling or even displacing the United States as the dominant world power.

Gurtov identifies serious constraints that will keep the country’s leadership focused for the foreseeable future on challenges at home. Arguing that China’s economic rise has exacerbated problems of social inequality, environmental degradation, official corruption, and more-and that its military capabilities and ambitions are far more limited than many observers have suggested-he makes a strong case that the most productive US policy will be one of engagement on issues of common concern, rather than confrontation or containment.

Contents: Preface. 1. Exploring the century issue. 2. Interpreting China’s rise. 3. Evaluating China’s place in the world. 4. China’s reach. 5. China’s good citizenship. 6. Feet of clay. 7. The united states by default? 8. Whose century? 9. Toward Sino-US reengagement. 10. Reassessing the China challenge. Appendix. Bibliography. Index.